As a caregiver, you might have found quickly that you simply can’t get everything done completely on your own. Asking family members for help is a natural first instinct, but you might not get the response that you are expecting.
Avoid Alienating Language and Behavior
Frustration can make you say and do things that you wouldn’t ordinarily do. When you’re talking to other family members about helping out more, you might let that frustration be your guiding force. The problem is that vinegar is not going to endear you to anyone and you might find that you’re in worse condition in terms of getting the help that you need than you were at the beginning. Assess what you’re saying and how you’re saying it and revamp what you can.
Hand out Information as Freely as Possible
The more that people understand about what is going on with your senior and what you both need, the more likely they’ll be to pitch in more often. What this means is that you’re going to need to determine what you’re willing and able to share and then do so. You might want to talk with your elderly family member about what she’s comfortable to have you share.
Look for Specific Tasks that Family Members Can Handle
Sometimes people don’t pitch in and offer to help more often because they just aren’t sure what to do. Giving them information about your elderly family member’s situation can help with that, of course, but so can giving them specific tasks that they can do. Start people out with smaller, simpler tasks and then gradually ask for more help.
Don’t Wait for a Specific Type or Level of Help
The biggest thing to remember when you’re trying to get more help from other family members is that if you’re waiting for them to hit a certain mark or give you a specific level of assistance, you’re likely to get disappointed. Instead, look for alternatives that get you the help you need, such as hiring elder care providers. These experienced helpers can make a tremendous difference in your daily life as a caregiver and there’s no emotional component to trip you up.
The bottom line is that there’s no one way to get the help that you need, but you can definitely go about it in ways that are more beneficial to you than others might be. Do what you can to convince family members to pitch in, but don’t put all your eggs in that one basket.
IF YOU OR AN AGING LOVED ONE ARE CONSIDERING IN-HOME ELDER CARE IN SUMMERLIN, NV, PLEASE CONTACT THE CARING STAFF AT GOLDEN HEART SENIOR CARE. CALL TODAY 702-800-4616.